HOTRS

The first song I ever learned on guitar was House of The Rising Sun. I practiced that song until my fingers bled. Still I could not play it like my guitar teach could. He had more soul in his guitar work than I could hope for.

When I got into MIDI many years ago I started trying to figure out how to do HOTRS. I kept starting it and then throwing it away. Fast forward to recent times. For almost 3 years I've been working on a version of this song. I finally got the guitar down about as good as I was gonna ever get it about 2 years ago. (trust me... there are lots of little timing errors!).

I then set to work on the organ and man-o-man... I had a lot of work to do and even after lots of practice I simply could not get it right. So I admit to quite a bit of MIDI nudging on the organ. I ended up doing two tracks and overlaying the more complex parts with two different sets of right hand fingering. Even still I must have botched it up a thousand times!

I went between listing to just about every version I could find then back to my version and kept tweaking it until I liked the sound. It's probably not spot on but I don't think it ever could be.

The bass and drums are MIDI.

I did a primary electric guitar track and two acoustic tracks for the strumming parts.

Then I ran into my typical vocal problem. I simply could not sing this. For over a year I would lay down a vocal take and back away for a listen and close the project in disgust. I finally gave up and laid down two tracks, a primary and a harmony. I think I must have done that harmony about a billion times before I got something that was marginally decent. LOL... Once again just watching far too much of The Voice!

So there is a main vocal, harmony vocal and a couple of tracks of AHHHs after the organ work.

Since this was my first song I ever learned I wanted my take on it to be as I hear it in my head. So it's pretty traditional.

really like
that vocal effect, just eeeeased me into the whole song. as many times as i've heard this song, this version still pulled me in. *extremely* nice harmonies. thoroughly enjoyed the slightly eerie take on this, gave it a smokey character.

HOTRS
Classic song. Classic rendition, Mark. Three years of devotion, man, that shows some persistence. You really nailed the organ. It sounds fantastic. The guitars drive/support the song, just as they should, and your vocals are always gonna be better than you give them credit for. Fine work, indeed. I think one of the first songs I learned on the guitar was "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright". I still sing it as a warm up pretty regularly :-) Take care, Peter.

HOTRS
This is such great tune and you've done a great job. We did a gig this last weekend and we got this song requested at the end of the night ... it still is big fav. Good vocals and I love the organ! Nice build at the end... Oh ... and the first song I learned on guitar was Secret Agent Man.
Cheers

HOTRS
Man I haven't heard this song in years and what a treat to hear your version. Nice and solid arrangement, very decent vox and I dig the organ! Nice work man - all your hard work paid off - enjoyed!
Sig

HOTRS
I have to laugh at your description of doing a vocal track, listening, and then closing the project in disgust. I think we have all been there! Anyway, I love this song and I think you did a fine job with it. I don't care if you had to nudge the midi notes, I think you got the organ part sounding pretty darn good!

I remember playing this
with my first group when just a kid. Good thing I didn't actually have to go through what the song actually said. But It sure was popular then wasn't it! Way to go, to bring back those memories. I ENJOY your approach to this tune, GREAT ORGAN and love the guitar and how close you get to how Eric Burden and the Animals did it. At least I think that is how you sell his name. I love to hear these tunes online by others and how it brings back such terrific memories!!!!

Guitar track...
...is really super, Mark. The clarity of that track is especially nice in this rendition of HOTRS. Classic number that suits your singing quite well, I think — at least as much as the original!!! The vocal harmony works well, too. It was very enjoyable to hear this number again with a slightly new take on it. Ah, the organ is a great addition.

Another One IN THE HOUSE!
Way to go, Mark. We're starting to have quite a collection of takes on this classic on the site. You've done a good job of melding The Animals' version with your own interpretation, giving it a more airy and plaintive feel. Vocals are really a matter of reps and attitude... as Chris pointed out, "the more you do 'em, the easier it gets." ;)

Way cool
You really nailed this one. It's brave to go after such a well known classic. It all works and you have given it the needed energy to separate it from being just another cover song. Love the organ :-)

First Efforts
First song learned on a guitar? That'll stretch the memory! For me I think it was probably the folk song "The Golden Vanity," learned around a scout campfire (although recognized from a version done by the Chad Mitchell Trio).

For a first song, hey, it doesn't get any better than "House of the Rising Sun." This sounds great. The struggle with it was worth it.

A ballad is a story in a song, usually a narrative song or poem. It is a rhythmic saga of a past affair, which may be heroic, romantic or satirical, political (affected by the previous three types mentioned, refers to either glorifying the exploits o